Being Compared to someone

[MalibuARMY]

Heya, this is MalibuARMY and i just want to say Hello.

I am, as of now, the only magician in my town. Though I do live close to LA I don't have a license. Sadly I am a 25 year old trapped in a 14 year olds body. NOT FUN. I have a very good friend that also did magic in my town and as of now he just graduated and is going to MIT. His friend, who also does a little bit of magic is going to college as well. I am left alone. (Teardrop). I can still call them and talk and such but my big problem is I am left in the shadow of another girl magician (she is well known and out of respect for the fact that she is a magician I won't say her name) she is in college like my friends at the moment but was in the Junior program at the Magic Castle like I will be in September. I am staying as positive as I can. I was in the same drumline as the magician at my high school and she was cruel to me and crossed many boundaries of mine by speaking for me on many subjects. We never really got along. She was passive aggressive and now I am living in her stupid shadow according to everyone else. She has bad patter and the only thing about her that stands out is that she is a girl. So what, I am too. Well, I probably shouldn't vent like I am right now, this isn't so much about me.

Is there another magician where you live that you respect or get along with regardless of their age or skill? Is there someone like the girl in my school that you can't stand, because of the way they trash you or their skill level compared to their ego level. Please expand. Or if you don't even know the person and just came across them. Good or bad encounter. I hope good.

I want to know if I am the only one out there who can relate to me or if again I am the only one with a weird situation. Love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Brad Henderson]

Whenever multiple magicians inhabit the same space (high school, college, summer camp) there are often conflicts. In the best of situations, you each find a measure of respect for your individual strengths and simply choose to hide the contempt you might harbor toward their weaknesses.

And if that can't be done, then attempting a mutually chosen path of ignoring each other may be a valid path.

I managed to get along well with the serious minded magicians in college. We became good friends. The casual 'I know two trick so I think I am a magician' not so much.

Ultimately, there are magicians everywhere, some of amazing backgrounds and levels of expertise in most regions. It's just a matter of finding them.

I book talent for a summer camp in the northeast who would love to have college age magicians as instructors, especially a female magician. If you ever want a gig like that (and that goes for anybody) drop me a line in the winter and I will put you in touch. Adam is there now.

Good luck. Look around. You might be surprised who you find.

 

[MalibuARMY]

I would love to get a job like that however I am almost 15, don't let that fool you sir, I don't care about pay, I just want experience and I hope you get in touch with me because though I don't mean to boast my mentor Bill Goodwin says I am very wise when it comes to magic and the psychology aspect of it. Please PM me if you would like to speak more.

 

[Brad Henderson]

Bill os a good friend. We are bringing him to austin in september for a show.

The camps only hire college age counselors. However, they do have a cit/jr counselor program where you would teach as well as participate in the camp experience.

Tell Bill I said hi. And if you can, follow him out to the taom. Will be a great conference.

 

[MalibuARMY]

Cool, hopefully I can see him next sunday. Thank you.

 

[Luis Vega]

Here in my town I thought I was the only magician...but sometime ago I realized that I wasn´t...

I feel lonely because they don´t approve how I do things...the way I dress and why I am doing this new tricks...they believe a lot of things that I don´t consider wrong... just in a different side..they have no ethics whatsoever...and they give a wrong image of magic...with their tricks and their way of behaving...

I must admit that I have to struggle with that stereotype from day 1...to approach a table and when they realize I am a magician they ask me where´s my cape,my wand and my hat...slowly I am starting to change that image...it´s hard but I am doing my best...

I don´t think you should care about that girl magician...you have your audience and you are learning at an amazing rate...but some advice I would like to give...don´t compete with her...because sometimes we forget that we do magic for laymen and not magicians and when it´s about fooling a magician specially someone as rude as her...you could only get your reputation damaged...

my advice would be that you follow your path and let her follow hers...don´t worry about being in her shadow..remember..."A lie is only truth when you believe it" eventually you will be better...

 

[Sk8r_St3v3]

Sadly I am a 25 year old trapped in a 14 year olds body. NOT FUN.

Not to be rude but i didnt understand this part o.o, im assuming you went back in time and sealed yourself in your teenage body, but realised it was irreversible?

 

[MalibuARMY]

I haven't spoken with her for years I just don't like the fact that everyone compares me to her. I don't make her look bad I just say we have different styles.

When you said that the other magicians wear capes and hats and have wants I started laughing so hard I was crying. It is ridiculous that people still do that unless they are also clowns for kid parties. We are not in the 1800's anymore. It is 200 years later. Goodness. They don't take it seriously then. If they like that stuff and don't have good slights and don't put in the time to enhance their skills they would have a better chance of just being a magic historian.

Thanks for the advice and post.

I do ignore the other magician and don't even put any effort in her because she is in college and we haven't seen each other in years so I don't have to worry, I just hate being compared to her.

 

[William Draven]

I've had my fair share of drama with other idiot magicians who I don't see eye to eye with. Some have issues with me, others I with them, there are even a few here on this board I've clashed with, but regardless of our situation I don't let that affect me. I've got my goals, dreams, and aspirations. Come hell or high water I'll see them through. Stay true to yourself, and avoid the political drama that affects our community. You'll do fine.

 

[Nikki]

If you don't like being compared to her..hmm, maybe try showing them how your different? I never had this problem, there aren't many young magicians that are in my town. They all like 2.5-3 hours away which is good because I still get to see them every now and then. I acctually met another girl that lives like 3 hours away..shes awesome though! Just keep your head up, and remember who you are as a magician. If you know your not like her...try and show other that. Show them who YOU are.


-Nikki

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Honestly, there's probably not much you can do other than keep getting better until you eclipse her memory in their minds. Here's the thing, people remember by association. It's like smelling peppermint and hot chocolate, and then thinking of Christmas. The reason people are comparing you to her is because that's all they have to associate you with. You're a girl magician, she's the only other girl magician they've ever seen.

So, as I said, all you can do is keep being good. Get better and better, and eventually they'll basically forget about her and remember you. Or it'll be, "Oh yeah. She's a magician like that other girl. Only better."

 

[Cedric Taylor]

If you don't like being compared to her..hmm, maybe try showing them how your different? I never had this problem, there aren't many young magicians that are in my town. They all like 2.5-3 hours away which is good because I still get to see them every now and then. I acctually met another girl that lives like 3 hours away..shes awesome though! Just keep your head up, and remember who you are as a magician. If you know your not like her...try and show other that. Show them who YOU are.


-Nikki

I don't have that problem to deal with. but i do have something similar can share. there's this one other guy whom everyone compares me to. he does good magic, but he's cocky and willing to tell everyone one that he's better than me....

he's always trying to one up me...the problem with that is he learns magic to one up me, i'm learning magic to further it into something special. while he does good magic, his intentions will lead him nowhere....

the whole point is to keep doing what you do...i hate to bring this up, but i can remember criss angel doing a spoof of david blaine, even going as far as to say that criss is the reason he is broke. till date, i haven't seen david retaliate....people know he and criss and two different kinds of magicians...

worry about the things you can control,not that you cant....and the rest will work out...

best wishes...

 

[Liderc]

What City do you live in then mate?

i'm also mates with Bill Goodwin. i'm practically at The Magic Castle every day performing and that lot, if i don't have other show/events/parties to work

 

[LucasCG]

You have to understand that being a magician is a very unique things. People will always remember the first magician they saw, because its such a moment for them. Magic is a powerfull tool; the ability to suspend disbilief is something we dont quickly forget.

So no matter what the talent or skill level is, people almost always rembember the first magician they saw; the first time they really expecianced magic in an extremely positive way. Its a memorable moment for them, and just speaks to the power of magic, rather then a performer's actual skill level.

I really dont think its something that should bother you, and quite honestly, its a little immature to let it do so. You're not seeing the bigger picture of what magic is really about; the spectators. You've lost sight of why we perform, and instead of trying to recreate the moment she's created for them before, and trying to add to what she's already done, youre competing against her.

Remember, we perform magic, not tricks.

Cheers,
Lucas

 

[Spade444]

Im sorry to hear that they compare you to someone else! Show them you're different!!

The closest thing ive had to deal with that is at all similar, is when people say, "dude, you're like Criss Angel.... "

I know,...not at all that similar, but still annoying...

 

[MalibuARMY]

I'm sorry if I was unclear in my message (I am speaking to LucusCG). I respect her, this is just something that irks me, I do respect her because she is a fellow magician. I just don't feel that she gives magic a good name, she turns it into a kiddie show. I have not lost sight in what magic is and I do not feel that you are in any position to say so. (Sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, I don't want to be). She was just very rude and disrespectful to me from the start and it is annoying to be compared to her because I don't want to be like her.

***Enough about me, though I did vent and make it about me. I want to hear if there are other people who know other magicians in their town and how they get along.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

There's a surprisingly large number of magicians in Fresno. Well, to outsiders it may not seem that surprising, because there's a half million people here, but if you know Fresno you'd be surprised to find out how many people do magic here. In my magic club alone there's 2 full time pro magicians, a clown magician, and 5 'part time pro's'. And that's not counting the retired guys. Then there's more that do shows that aren't part of our club. I don't know how many of them are full time pro's or what, though.

So any time I do magic, I'm compared to other people that do magic and people are always asking, "Do you know that guy that does that one trick?" It doesn't bother me. My style is pretty unique in this area, so people are just remembering the association of 'magician.'